Slainte-Mhath
Springbank 15 Year
Single Malt — Campbeltown, Scotland
Reviewed
March 30, 2024 (edited April 4, 2024)
What is Springbank's secret? Everything is done on site, from malting to bottling. No flannel, it's just authentic whisky. Dense and complex, the nose blossoms with dark cherries, ripe oranges and whiffs of smoke. Sea salt, sweet tobacco and burned matches creep in. On the palate, stewed fruits, dates and dark chocolate mingle with marmalade, eucalyptus and drying oak. The peat comes and goes, there is a lot to unpack. After Eights, cocoa and licorice fade in the mineral and slightly dirty finish. No wonder this stuff does not hang around on the shelves!
RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]
150.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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Tasted side by side with a recent 2023 batch (23/94). The nose is less expressive, emphasizing roasted nuts, caramel and lemon zest. Raisins, espresso and hints of peat smoke appear, and there is some sulfur in the back. Tastewise, juicy oranges, rich oak spices and dark chocolate are at the forefront, it is notably dryer and less fruity than the 2022 batch. Water helps. Peaty-mineral flavors, cocoa and black tea linger in the long finish. Certainly not the strongest batch, but Springbank on a bad day is still better than most distilleries on a good day. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS
@cascode That kind of reminds me of Clynelish, and the desaster when it losts its waxiness. Diageo even tried to make a feature of the missing waxiness. It became a completely sanitized product, the opposite of Springbank.
As you say, authentic whisky. When I read or hear discussions about what it is that makes Springbank different I can't help but think they miss the point. It's more interesting to ponder why so many distilleries have lost their way and make distillate that no longer resembles Springbank. Thank goodness it (and a couple of others) still carry the torch for old-school values.
Additional comment: I usually prefer Springbank 10 over the sherry-forward 15-year-old. That said, both 2022 batches I reviewed were pretty strong, so in this case it is a tie. If you want to experience Springbank character and funk, go for the 10. If a great sherry malt is your thing, opt for the 15.
Additional information: This review is for batch 22/121, bottled June 16th, 2022. It is one of the best batches I have tasted in recent years. Note that scores for the 15-year-old can range from 87 to 90 points.